§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy in considering applications for visitor entry clearance where the applicant wishes to visit the United Kingdom for a family wedding, as a guest, on a particular date; and in what percentage of such applications in the past 12 months the entry clearance officer in Islamabad has offered an interview date after the date of the wedding. [92274]
§ Mr. HoonEvery effort is made to offer an appointment at the earliest convenient opportunity. At peak periods for travel, waiting times may extend to three or four weeks. Since most visit visa applicants plan to travel on specific dates, it is only where there are compelling compassionate circumstances that interview appointments can be brought forward ahead of others who are waiting. For this reason we encourage travellers to apply for their visas well ahead of their intended date of travel.
604WSeparate statistics are not held on the purpose of proposed visits and the number of applicants offered an interview date after the date of a particular event cannot therefore be established.